MassRobotics Form & Function 2027

The Form & Function Robotics Challenge is run by MassRobotics, a robotics innovation hub in Boston, with partners including AMD, Dassault Systèmes, Harmonic Drive, Maeden, Maxon and Mitsubishi Electric. Applications for the 2027 challenge are not open yet: MassRobotics says they will open in January 2027, and no exact date or closing date has been published. The grand prize is US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh).

What the program offers

University teams build a robotics or automation project whose form suits the task it performs and which does a useful job. The prizes are a US$10,000 grand prize (about ₹9.5 lakh), US$1,000 each for second and third place, and a US$1,000 Audience Choice Award. A US$1,000 prize is about ₹95,000.

There is no stipend for developing the project. Instead the partners provide hardware and software for teams to use: AMD offers mini PCs, Dassault Systèmes CAD software, Harmonic Drive gears and motors, Maeden flexible wiring, Maxon motors, and Mitsubishi Electric PLC, HMI, robotics, servo and RT Toolbox software. Teams keep the rights to their projects, together with their schools. Some partner equipment may need a non-disclosure agreement, handled case by case.

Who can apply

Teams must be affiliated with a college or university. A team can be any size, including a single person. MassRobotics describes the challenge as open to participants worldwide, so a student team from an Indian university or institute is not excluded by anything on the page. Companies, startups and individuals not tied to a college do not qualify.

The project must work and must use two or more of the partner items listed above. This suits engineering students who like building physical prototypes and have access to a lab or workshop. It is a poor fit for teams that only have a design on paper or a purely software project.

How to apply

The 2027 application form will appear on the Form & Function page from January 2027, and the page invites you to sign up for updates. Build your project using at least two partner items. You must also make a video about the project covering what it does and the partner technology used. The page gives two lengths: a 2-minute video to be eligible for prize money and a 2-3 minute video for judging, so confirm the length with the organisers when the 2027 form opens.

Teams then show their work at the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston, where the project should function and look good. You may bring the physical project, a video, a school banner or a poster.

How applications are judged and what happens next

Judges look at originality, impact, overall execution, whether the project inspires, use of partner technology, durability, whether it impresses, problem-solving and reliability. Winners are announced at the Robotics Summit & Expo. Recent winners were Seoul National University (2024), Northeastern University (2025) and Boston University (2026), which shows the field includes teams from several countries. The page does not state the 2027 event dates.

About MassRobotics

MassRobotics is a non-profit robotics hub at 12 Channel Street in Boston. Besides this challenge it runs a resident startup programme, an accelerator, fellowships, education programmes for students and events through the year.

Things to check before you apply

There is no travel stipend for the Robotics Summit & Expo, so teams cover their own costs if they attend. A team that cannot attend can ask for the project to be shown without someone present, and MassRobotics decides this case by case. Prize money is only for teams that submit the video. A practical tip: line up your faculty adviser, lab access and the partner components well before January, since building takes time. Check with your institution how prize money paid abroad would be received and taxed.